Hello, Crossroads Family !

I’m badly needing to finish preparations for my talks this weekend at The Springs church in Springfield where I am the featured missionary at their missions conference.  However, my thoughts and prayers keep coming back to Crossroads, so I want to take a few minutes to send some encouragements your way !  Bryan Townsend will preach in my place at Crossroads this Sunday.  Thank you for praying for Bryan as he prepares !  I know you will have a wonderful morning of worship !

I’ll be speaking Saturday evening at a dinner gathering of some of the leadership at The Springs, then preaching at their Sunday morning services at 9:00 and 10:30.  The Springs is an Evangelical Free Church you’ve probably seen on the west side of Highway 65 as you leave Springfield or come into Springfield from Branson.  Years ago, that building was home to James River Assembly of God before James River moved further south on 65.

Diana and I were among The Springs’ first supported missionaries back when we were preparing to serve God on the mission field in 1987-88.  In fact, I think we might have been their very first missionaries, as the church itself was just getting started.  I have to say I’m a little nervous about the weekend.  Why ?  No real need to be.  Just these thoughts (so would appreciate your prayers) :

• There are people there I’ve known for a long time, some who are quite important in my life.  This feels to me also kind of like “How did it all turn out ?”  Here’s a church that invested in a family years ago ; how did it turn out ?  Those are thoughts that come to my mind as I prepare.  I hope it was a good investment for the church.     

• I’ve been away from the mission field for 25+ years.  Maybe not the greatest speaker today on missions ?  And yet, is Southwest Missouri also a mission field ?  That’s a question we should all consider an answer to.  If it is a mission field, how are we doing as missionaries here ?  If it’s not a mission field — in other words, if it’s a place where everyone has already heard and/or accepted the Gospel — why are we hanging around ?  Shouldn’t we take the Gospel to other places in that case ?

• I have a slight fear of being put back up on the missionary “pedestal.”  I’m not a person who belongs on a pedestal anywhere, but there is a tendency in churches to hold missionaries up as truly exceptional Christians.  (Or is it that some missionaries — myself included — like to crawl back up on that pedestal themselves ?)  

So, thank you for praying for me !  I’m sure it’s going to be a great weekend, both here at Crossroads and at The Springs !  

I was reading through parts of the end of Isaiah this morning in my quiet time and had a Christmas album playing at the same time !  All of the second half of Isaiah is great reading in preparation for Christmas.  Our theme for Advent this year at Crossroads is going to be “Songs of Joy in Anticipation of Jesus,” looking at the handful of songs early in the Gospels that are sung (by Mary and others) as the arrival of baby Jesus becomes a reality.  Jenny is helping me prepare our Christmas Eve service, and we’ll make this the theme of our Advent too.  I look forward to these Songs of Joy & Anticipation, and I hope we can work in some of Isaiah too !

What struck me specifically this morning out of Isaiah was God bearing down on the Jews for their disobedience and idolatry, yet at the same time holding out tender promises of forgiveness and love.  At one point, God challenges the Jews to find in their idols the help they were looking for :  “Of whom were you worried and fearful when you lied and did not remember Me ?  I was silent for a long time so you did not fear Me.  Therefore, when you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you !”  (Isaiah 57:11-12, paraphased).  

But later, God says this about Judah :  

“I have seen his ways, but I will heal him ; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners, creating praise on his lips.  ‘Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near,’ says the Lord, and I will heal him” (Isaiah 57:17-19).

I hope you’ll find renewed strength and hope in knowing God is reaching out, ready to forgive and renew fellowship when we need it.  Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”  In periods of disobedience, we can rely on the Holy Spirit’s inner witness that we belong to God through faith in Jesus Christ who said, “I know My sheep, and they follow Me, and they shall never perish” (John 10:27-28).  Then we can take steps to return to a close walk with Him.

God is doing so much in your lives and in our lives together.  Don’t be afraid of the hard things He may be doing in your life.  It’s a testimony of His love for you.  Open yourself up to whatever He chooses and needs to do.  Charles Stanley used to say, “Don’t miss out on the finished product !”  God is shaping our lives, and there is a finished product awaiting.  We’re not there yet ; we’re in process.

Similarly, I feel God is shaping us as a church and preparing us for a next step of life.  What it will be, I’m not sure, but let’s not resist His working and moving in us.  A church should always be changing and growing !  Ours is — let’s not be afraid !  One of the best things we can all do is take to heart the things we learned last Sunday about love and hospitality and building deep relationships both inside and outside the walls of the church.  What an impact that would have on us and on our world !  There’s no stopping us if we love the Lord and love each other well.

Not everyone who visits Crossroads Church stays ; and, from time to time, people move on to another church for various reasons.  I was encouraged by someone in the church who said to me last weekend that it’s okay to allow someone else to care for a sheep that previously had seemed to be in our care.  Please be aware that I don’t always know why someone hasn’t been attending church.  Sometimes people ask me, “Where’s so-and-so been ?”  I don’t always have the answer to that question (which is a good reason for you to exchange contact information among yourselves, as you’re able, so you can check on each other).  Sometimes I might know the answer to that question but am not in a position of being able to give out the answer.  All that to say, let’s really take to heart the need to share the burden of reaching out and caring for all the sheep God brings into the fold at Crossroads.  Thank you !  As we do so, these will be exciting times of walking together with the Lord !  I thank God for Judy Gossett and Elizabeth Scheib who joined Crossroads as new members this past Sunday !

I hope you have a great day and rest of the week !  Don’t forget Immerse this Wednesday at 7:00 !  The discussion will be on the second half of the book of Ezekiel !  Please come — you’ll be glad you did !  

Don’t forget, too, that this Sunday afternoon at 3:30 everyone is invited to the church for some fellowship and preparation of Christmas gifts for the staff and residents at Nathan Richard Care Center (right across the street from our church).  We’ll deliver these gifts on December 7.  If you could bring some snacks, that would make it even more fun !  Let Jenny know if you can bring some finger foods !  Thank you !

There are three Christmas cards on the back table at the church building.  They’re for our missionaries — Colin Welch, the McCallisters, and the Shoemakers.  Please take a minute when you’re at the church, or on Sunday, to sign those cards so we can send them and let these ones know how much we love them.  Thank you !

Please pray for Dave Ewing who continues to struggle with issues with his eyes.  Thank you for praying for Dave and Julie at this time !

“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteous, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).

— Tom

Hello, Crossroads Family !

Coming up at Crossroads :

• Tonight :  Immerse, 7pm.  Come join us for good fellowship and discussion.  The reading assignment is pp 311-355 in the Immerse Bible (Obadiah, and the first half of Ezekiel).

• Sunday morning :  Worship at 10 am.  Children’s Church for 0-7 year-olds, and Bible class for 8-13 year-olds during the sermon time.  

• Sunday evening :  Sunday Night Bible Study, 6 pm.  We’ll meet at Jenny’s home.  Come with a favorite psalm of yours to share with the group.

• Sunday, November 16 :  Crafts and gift basket preparation at the church at 3:30 pm.  We’ll be preparing small crafts and assembling Christmas gift baskets for the residents and staff at Nathan Richard Care Center.  Everyone is welcome !  We’ll deliver the gifts, and will carol the residents and staff, on Sunday, December 7.  If you have items that could be part of gift baskets for the staff (snack items, hand sanitizer, Kleenex, throat lozenges, etc), please bring them this Sunday and leave them in the basket at the back of the worship area.  Thank you !

• Next Men’s Recharge :  Thursday, November 20, 6:30 pm.  All men and your friends are invited !

• Next Elders Meeting :  Sunday, November 30, following worship.  Donna and Cris Rodriguez are preparing an initial 2026 church budget proposal for review by the elders before a congregational vote in December.  If you are a ministry team leader and would like to give some input to Donna and Cris for your line in the budget for next year, please reach out to them.  Thank you !

Needs at Community Outreach

With colder weather coming, and with some uncertainty for families due to the government shutdown, Community Outreach could use our help providing food to individuals and families in our area.  The soup kitchen at Community Outreach serves meals seven days a week and would welcome non-perishable food items you could bring them, especially Thanksgiving-related food items.  

For example, …

• canned green beans
• canned corn
• canned sweet potatoes
• cans of gravy
• instant mashed potatoes
• stuffing mixes

Thank you for helping with this need !  The soup kitchen served 104 people last Friday.  The address for Community Outreach is 229 N. Cedar Street.

Missionaries Update

Our missionaries are busy serving the Lord both in the U.S. and overseas.  Thank you for praying for them !

Jesse and Erica McCallister and family have been traveling a lot, visiting supporters and churches.  They’ve had the joy of a German friend coming to the U.S. who has shared his story of faith in Christ with some of those the McCallisters have met with.  Their team in Berlin has an opportunity to rent a cafe space in the heart of the city that could be used for Bible studies, discipleship, language cafe, and more.  Thank you for praying for these opportunities and for God’s blessing on the McCallister family.

Colin Welch’s team is making creative use of a gallery in Paris to build connections with artists and other Parisians.  Please pray for his team as they make decisions concerning the use of this space and that they would make great connections in the weeks and months to come.  Also, please pray for Colin and Angie as they pursue God’s will for their future marriage and ministry together.  Thank you !

Why all the fuss ?

One of the hard things a pastor (or elder or other teacher in the church) must do is to teach on sin.  Obedience to Christ in all things sometimes may seem like a legalistic type of thing.  Why all the fuss about sin ?  After all, we know that everyone sins.  Can’t we just leave well enough alone ?

Sin is actually a danger to ourselves, so to warn each other and to encourage each other to repent of sin and follow Christ obediently is actually a help to each other.  

A favorite Bible verse of mine is John 14:21 where Jesus says, “He who has my commands and keeps them, he is the one who loves Me.  He who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”  

What a joy to walk closely with the Lord Jesus and to be in a position where He “discloses” Himself to us.  I look at this as Him guiding us, filling us with His joy, making His presence more closely felt — something we, of course, all desire !  But the condition is, “Keep my commands.”  Walk in obedience.

In John 15:10, Jesus said, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”  Yes, we are loved by God ; but do we always abide / live in the Father’s love, enjoying it moment by moment throughout the day ?  Maybe not, and possibly because we’re not serious about His commands, or we make excuses for why it’s okay not to follow some of them.

It’s often said that all sins are the same, but are they really ?  Yes, all sins are the same in the sense that they separate us from fellowship with God ; any sin defines us as a lawbreaker.  But the consequences of all sins are not the same.  In addition, public sin brings a faster response from those watching than does private sin ; it dishonors God’s name more quickly and perhaps more severely than private sins.  (That’s not to say that private sins are okay either, however.)    

We must be careful.  The Apostle Peter wrote, “I urge you to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul” (1 Peter 2:11).  The great danger of sin is that it wages war against our souls.  We may not even realize it.  Yet, we must believe it because God says it’s so.

Psalm 112 :  “How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.  His descendants will be mighty on earth” (vv 1-2).  That psalm goes on to speak of an obedient believer as being someone who is also gracious, compassionate, and righteous — someone who helps others, whose causes are just, and who will never be shaken.

As you pray for our church family, pray that God would make us sensitive to the danger of all sin, and that a love for God and desire for close communion with Him will keep us walking in all His ways.  

— Tom

Hello, Crossroads Family !

We now have a Nominating Committee made up of Mark Tice, Catherine Moss, Heather Vestal, Diane Ray, and Tommie Ray.  They may be reaching out to you about a nominations for next year’s Elder Board.  Or if you have thoughts or questions for them, please take time to bring those to them.  The nomination(s) for Elder Board must be approved by a 75% affirmative vote by church members voting at our December 14th congregational meeting.  Thanks to these five who are willing to serve on the Nominating Committee !  Let’s keep them in our prayers as they go about discerning God’s will for our church in this area.

I’ll be preaching this Sunday on the subject of church eldership and spiritual leadership in general.  I hope you’ll be present.  I believe God will renew and reinforce our vision for ministry together.  

I read the following passage this morning in the book of Ezekiel concerning “shepherds.”  How important it is that a group of God’s people have good shepherds.  This passage reminds us of that in a rather painful way.  You may remember that Ezekiel, like Daniel, was with the Jewish exiles in Babylon at the time when God brought judgment on the people living in Jerusalem and Judah.

“Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves !  Should not the shepherds feed the flock ?  … Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost ; but with force and with severity you have dominated them.  They were scattered for lack of a shepherd, and they became food for every beast of the field and were scattered … all over the face of the earth” (Ezekiel 34:2-6).

Wow !  Powerful, sobering words !  Thanks for praying for Crossroads’ elders … and for the selection of someone to fill the position that’s coming open at the beginning of next year. 

Needs & Prayers

Our Crossroads elders spent time last Sunday discussing needs that may exist in our congregation or in the community because of the likely upcoming suspension of SNAP benefits.  We’re seeking to help those in our own congregation who may be affected, and also ways we might assist Community Outreach at this time.  I’ve also been made aware today of some of our other Ministerial Alliance churches who are organizing meal kits.  I’ll bring that idea and their request to the church family Sunday.

We’re collecting items for Christmas gift baskets for the staff at Nathan Richard Care Center (located right across the street from our church building).  Don’t forget to bring items to the church and place them in the basket at the back of the worship area.  If you have questions, please touch base with Jenny Rives.  Thank you !  We look forward to preparing some handmade crafts and assembling the gift baskets on Sunday, November 16, at 3:30 at the church.  We’ll distribute these gifts, and will carol to the residents and staff, on Sunday, December, at 4 pm.

There are many prayer needs and praise reports in our church family all week long !  Thanks for sharing what God has done in your life !  Thanks for bearing each other’s burdens through prayer.  Here are two or three to remember as we finish the week :

• Dominick Goodwin and Kylee Vestal will be married this coming Saturday.  Let’s keep them and their families in our prayers.  Don’t forget you are invited to the wedding reception Saturday, 5:30-10:00 pm, at Enchanted Prairie Farm, 17557 East Stockade Road.
• Mark Tice’s son, Bradley, will be married next weekend in Michigan.  Let’s be in prayer for Bradley and his fiancée, Kate, as well as for Mark and his entire family.
• Dave Ewing underwent emergency eye surgery yesterday.  We’re thankful that the procedure went well and Dave is recovering.

Reminders

Women’s Breakfast & Bible Study, this Saturday morning at 8:00.  This is the final session for the fall.  We give thanks to God for all women at Crossroads Church, and we’re thrilled for what He has done in the lives of those who were part of the study series this fall !  

Worship this Sunday morning, 10:00.  Children’s Church for ages 0-7 during the sermon.  Bring your gift items for the staff at Nathan Richard.  We’ll worship around the Lord’s Table at the conclusion of the service. 

Sunday Night Bible Study, 6 pm.  We’ll meet this Sunday night at the home of Marvin and Diane Knoche.  We’ll study the Psalms of Trust.  These are typically among our favorites — psalms such as 23, 121, etc.  I hope you can join us !

Immerse next Wednesday night, 7:00.  Everyone is welcome, even if you’ve missed some sessions.  The reading assignment in the Immerse Bible is pp 311-355 which is the equivalent in other Bibles of the book of Obadiah plus chapters 1-24 of the book of Ezekiel.

Final Thoughts

There’s a lot to be said about Christ-filled relationships in a church.  We all crave healthy, deep relationships with people, especially those with whom we share the joy of knowing the Lord.  In a discussion I had with several other Evangelical Free Church pastors about 18 months ago, we kicked around a topic called “Crucial Conversations” (from a book by Joseph Grenny).  See what you think about this topic from the few notes I’ve included below.  Do we have good “crucial conversations” at Crossroads Church ?  How can we do better and develop deeper Christ-influenced relationships ?

1.  Anytime you find yourself stuck as an organization or team, ask, “What crucial conversation are we not having, or not having well ?”  If you don’t talk it out, you’ll act it out.

2.  What are the two or three crucial conversations that most affect the health of your organization (your church or ministry team) ?  Focus on crucial conversations ; make them a positive, elevating experience.  The Bible is a history of crucial conversations.  There are two choices always :  Talk it out or act it out.

3.  Some “crucial subjects” that are often overlooked by church members and/or church leaders :  (a) performance problems with volunteers or staff ; (b) members struggling with sin ; (c) concerns about the pastor(s).

4.  Crucial Moments :  There are some moments in the life of a church or other organization that have a disproportionate influence on the church.  In other words, there are some crucial moments that matter more than others.  Oftentimes, these moments are when there are (a) opposing opinions ; (b) high emotions ; and (c) high stakes involved.

As we discuss church eldership this Sunday (and some again on the following Sunday), I believe the Lord will speak to us about relationships in the church.  Growing deeper in genuine relationship allows us to speak candidly (the truth) in love.  There may be a myth we buy into that says you have to choose between telling the truth and keeping a friend.  That myth can be at the heart of some church dysfunction.  

“But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:15-16).

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:32).

Looking forward to seeing you Sunday !

— Tom

Hello, Crossroads Family,

I thoroughly enjoyed our Crossroads 101 membership class last Sunday.  Thanks to those who came, and thanks to Bryan and Erin Townsend for the meal they provided.  It’s hard sometimes to believe how many new faces there are among us and the unique journey each person is on.  We had good conversation at the class and especially gained a realization of the need to work hard at relationship-building at Crossroads.  Growing the connections each of us has while, at the same time, living busy lives does not always seem obvious to us, but it’s doable, it’s rewarding, and it’s what will cause a church to remain healthy and unified while growing in number.  Let’s all consider ways we can connect with newcomers to Crossroads, not only at church “events” but also outside the walls of the church !

Thanks to those who have prayed for my daughter Betsy.  She is off the IV and fetal monitor that kept her bedridden at her Portland hospital, but she and the baby are not out of danger yet.  It seems clear that the baby will arrive prematurely, but the doctors are trying to hold her off as long as they can and also keep Betsy stabilized.  Preeclampsia is a rather unpredictable situation.  She will be hospitalized until the baby arrives.  She’s about 15 weeks early at this point.  Thanks for your prayers.  There are others needing our prayers for health needs, too :  Dave Prickett continues to undergo tests ; Heather Hall’s dad needs healing ; the Lyons family has a 1-year-old friend with a serious health need ; Catherine Moss will have knee surgery in just a few weeks ; Diane Ray is undergoing tests and making decisions concerning pain.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says …

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Let’s also be praying for Donna Rodriguez on her Eastern U.S. bike ride, for Erin Reedy attending the EFCA Worship Leaders Conference in Minneapolis this week, for Kylee Vestal & Dominick Goodwin whose wedding is quickly approaching.  Thank you for praying !  God delights in the prayers of His children, and He delights to give us what we need.

Still looking for three more members at Crossroads who will serve on the Nominating Committee.  Our elders meet this Sunday and will be calling on people if we don’t receive volunteers.    Thanks for your consideration.  Thanks to the two people who have volunteered — Catherine Moss and Heather Vestal.

Elizabeth Scheib is wondering if anyone from Crossroads would like to go as a group to Sight & Sound Theatre in Branson for a performance of David.  The idea is a group outing on either December 13 or 20.  Both are Saturdays.  If there is a group of 15 or more people, there is a 5% discount on the tickets.  Otherwise, seating is $79 for adults and $32 for children under 12.  Let Elizabeth know if you would be interested in an outing in December with some others in the church family.

Reminders

• Immerse tomorrow (Wednesday) night, 7-8:15 pm.  Would love to see you there !

• There is NO Women’s Breakfast & Bible Study this Saturday, October 25.  The final session for Breakfast & a Bible study will be Saturday, November 1, at 8 am.

This Sunday :

• Children’s Church for ages 0-7 during the sermon.

• Worship at 10:00.  Don’t forget that if you have items to contribute to Christmas gift baskets for the staff at Nathan Richard Care Center (Kleenex, snacks, lotion, etc), please bring those items Sunday and place them in the basket at the back of the worship area.  Thank you !

• Elders meeting following the worship service.

• Sunday Night Bible Study — 6:00 pm, at Jenny Rives’ home.  We’ll study the psalms of thanksgiving.

Coming Up :

• Sunday, November 16 — Preparation of crafts and gift baskets for the residents and staff at Nathan Richard Care Center.  Come and help at the church at 3:30 pm on November 16th.  Thank you !  If you have questions, please speak to Jenny.

• Sunday, December 7 — Caroling and gift distribution at Nathan Richard.  Meet at the church at 4 pm.  Refreshments following.

• Sunday, December 14 — Congregational Meeting following worship.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  If you are interested in becoming a voting member at Crossroads, please let myself or one of the elders know.

• Sunday, December 14 — Women’s Christmas Party, 5 pm, at the church.  More details coming.  Mark your calendar !

• Wednesday, December 24 — Christmas Eve service, 6:30 pm, at the church.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or we would bring it.  You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.  Our sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit ; a broken and contrite heart You, God, will not despise.  

        — Psalm 51:16-17

I look forward to seeing you soon, and I thank God for you !

— Tom

Hello, Crossroads Family !

Thank you to everyone who made the Hot Dog Dinner outreach such a good time last Sunday !  We were blessed with good weather, good fellowship, and opportunities to rub shoulders with several who joined us from the community.  Thanks to everyone who organized, contributed food, cooked, and facilitated interactions with people who came !  We also enjoyed a night of singing, Scripture, and prayer last night at the church.  Thanks to all who organized and to those who came to sing praises and prayers to God.  Immerse will resume next Wednesday night at 7:00.

A Need 

We’re still looking for five people who are members of the church and who would be willing to serve on the Nominating Committee this fall.  The job of the Nominating Committee is to seek God’s will concerning a nomination for a position on the Elder Board that will be open next year.  The person nominated will be voted on at the congregational meeting December 14.  In December, Forrest will finish his first term as elder and is eligible to be nominated for a second term.  Please let one of the elders know if you would like to serve on the Committee.  Thank you !

Men’s Recharge Tonight, 6:30

Looking forward to a great study tonight on the 9th commandment.  Hope you’ll be there tonight, men !

Coming Up

• This Saturday :  Women’s Breakfast and a Bible Study, 8 am, at the church.

• This Sunday
  • Worship at 10:00.
  • Children’s Church available for 0-7 year olds during the sermon.
  • 8-13 year-old Bible Class during the sermon.
  • Crossroads 101 membership class immediately following the worship service.
  • NO Sunday Night Bible Study this week.

• Next week :  Immerse — Wednesday, 7-8:15 pm.  We’ll begin discussing the book of Jeremiah.  This is a good time to jump in and join Immerse !  Contact Forrest if you need information or need a copy of the Immerse Bible.

Looking Ahead 

Erin Reedy will be attending the EFCA Worship Leader Gathering next week at New Hope Church, an Evangelical Free Church in the Minneapolis area.  Please pray for Erin, that she would be encouraged, make some great contacts with other EFCAers, and bring back some helps for worship ministry.  Thank you !

Our elders will meet next on Sunday, October 26, following the worship service.  If you have anything for the elders to include on their agenda, or if you have items to include on the church calendar, please let them know before the 26th.  Thank you.

On Sunday, November 16, you’re invited to the church at 3 pm to create some small crafts and gift baskets for residents at Nathan Richard Health Care Center, right across the street from our church.  Please speak to Jenny if you need more information.  We’ll deliver the gifts to residents and do some caroling on Sunday, December 7.  

The Crossroads women are having a Christmas Party for all women and their friends.  Mark your calendar :  Sunday, December 14, at 5 pm for celebrating the reason for the season together !  More details to come.

Please pray for Heather Hall and her family.  Heather’s dad was hospitalized this week and is undergoing tests.  Thank you !

Final Thoughts

I received this week, from a former missionary colleague, a review he had written of a book called The Local Church : What It Is And Why It Matters To Every Christian.  Here are eight thoughts from that book he found significant.  What’s your response to these eight thoughts about the church ?

1)     The church is not a human project ; it is God’s project from start to finish.

2)      Christ creates and commands the church.

3)      Belonging to and participating in a church is not an option.

4)      A churchless Christianity has no relation to Christ.

5)      The local church is the primary institution where your relationship with God happens, where your relationship with the Christian family happens, and where you are assigned to do ministry and missions; rather than being an add-on or helpful addition to your Christian life, your local church is your spiritual headquarters, your home, and your place of work.

6)      The local church nurtures God’s children, through preaching and teaching, counseling, pastoral care, ministries of mercy and service, and real authentic relationships.

7)      The church is not to be equated with the kingdom, but is an outpost and embassy, born from and bearing its authority (Matt. 16:18-19), serving as a sign, an instrument, and a foretaste of God’s kingdom.

8)      The church is the universal, international, and eschatological community of the new covenant between God and humanity, whom Christ creates and rules, whom the Spirit indwells and directs, through whom the Father is glorified, and to whom all Christians throughout history belong.

If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, are at least 18 years old, and have been through the Crossroads 101 class, we would love for you to join Crossroads as a voting member, in addition to your current involvement.  Please let one of the elders know if you’re interested.  Voting members are involved in decision-making such as will take place at our December congregational meeting (election of an elder, by-laws changes, vote on a church budget for next year).  We would love for you to participate in life at Crossroads in this way !

Finally, thank you so much for all the kind words, gifts, and cards I received last week for Pastor Appreciation.  I’m thankful for the relationship we have !  I have one of the kindest congregations in America, I’m sure !  I’m thankful to serve with you in Christ’s church, and I’m grateful that you are willing to accept the ministry of a less-than-perfect pastor.  Let’s continue to grow in love for, and obedience to, Christ in the coming year.  Thank your prayers for my family in the loss of a pre-born grandbaby last week.  Henry Decker Harms was the name that had been chosen for him, and was given to him, last week.  Thanks for your prayers for Emma and Jason and all our family.

I hope to see you Sunday !

— Tom